I have known many markets: Lancaster County’s Central Market, the oldest indoor market in the United States. Munich’s Viktualienmarkt, a foodie’s heaven, Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle Market, a hub of food politics in the nation’s capital, Iowa City’s Farmer’s Market, a packed small town square and big f-you to Iowa’s big food producers.
And now Salem’s Saturday Farmer’s Market, which opened today for the season.
It’s still early in the season, and I’ve heard that the space near the capitol building where the market sets up shop fills up as the season progresses, but it is still possible to buy the compenents of an entire meal there this early in the year.
I went there knowing no one. I left with a bag of coffee, a dozen organic eggs, and the names of at least five people.
And I ran out of money.
(My own fault).
Here’s a selection of some of the market’s 50 stands.
Flower and Produce Stand
Farris-Seaman’s Bird house, Dog and Cat Cookies, and Knitted Hats and Bags (obviously a multi-talented family), also known as CUTETASTIC HATS!
Now all I need is a kid to force these cutetastic hats on…
Rainforest Mushrooms
Shitakes and Maitakes in brown bags, Oh my! And one of the hunters was there with a pan full of olive oil, frying some up. Told them my husband once found a 25-pound maitake in the Iowa woods. They weren’t pleased. (Actually, he now tells me it was 40 pounds. They were apparently not impressed by the size since they grow them indoors and don’t hunt them).
Cape Foulweather Coffee Co.
For now, let’s call them the most honestly named Pacific Northwest coffee producers I’ve encountered. I bought a pound of their ground Brazil. More on that later.
I spoke to Elaine, one of Foulweather’s owners, who is a former marine biologist. A FORMER MARINE BIOLOGIST! Seriously, isn’t that what everyone wants to be when they grow up?
No way man, that’s like so 15 years ago.
These days, they dream of roasting coffee.
Was there today, too. . . it was a ghost town compared to the full throttle summer deliciousness-can’t wait!
It was a bit nippy out. Nice spread of items there today.
I’m honestly jealous that we don’t have a better market in my neck of the woods.
Well. we don’t have Simone, or the popcorn guy, or the salsa guy, or the Vietnamese spring roll couple…
I don’t get it – why didn’t they like your giant-mushroom story? I’m guessing possible competition wasn’t the problem, since the mushroom in question was from IOWA, for heaven’s sake. I’m confused.
Oh, and we are fond of the Saturday market, too, but we’re not as thrilled by mere vegetables as adults should be so we usually wait until the cherries start showing up before we go.
I bet you could special order one of those cute hats in your size (why wait for the kid).